Franklin group: 'Hate has no home here'

Thursday

May 18, 2017 at 9:30 PMMay 26, 2017 at 11:53 AM

By Christian Yapor Daily News Staff

FRANKLIN - Chanting “Immigrants are welcome here, say it loud and say it clear,” and holding up signs that read “Hate has no home here,” about 20 protesters gathered in front of the Veterans of Foreign Wars building to support immigrant communities.

The demonstration was initially planned to protest a discussion on immigration hosted by director of policy studies for the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) Jessica Vaughan that would have taken place in the building Thursday night.

However, the event, sponsored by the Franklin Republican Town Committee, was cancelled during the afternoon after Larry Bederian, commander of the VFW Post 3402, refused to host political events under the VFW’s roof.

“We will not have a part of it. We are neutral,” said Bederian. “The VFW is not to be used for political harassment.”

Vaughan was expected to touch on topics that included people competing with immigrants for jobs in the labor market, national and public safety problems attributed to illegal immigration, and the current jurisdictions for sanctuary communities.

“Immigration is an issue that doesn’t fit into the usual political boxes, and my organization is non-partisan with liberals and conservatives affiliated with it, but apparently the VFW does not wish to host events that are sponsored by political party-affiliated groups,” said Vaughan.

The Center for Immigration Studies is a non-profit research organization that favors lowering the number of immigrants allowed into the United States, and produces research to further those views.

Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a nonprofit legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights and public litigation, labeled CIS, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), and NumbersUSA as nationalist groups.

"We (CIS) are certainly not a hate group, and we would not promote hateful material,” said Vaughan in a phone conversation after the event was cancelled.

Stephanie Roberts, a member of Action Together Massachusetts, an organization that focuses on supporting targeted communities, such as immigrants, said she disagrees with Vaughan’s stances on immigration.

“We disagree because one of the biggest factors of being a hate group, is to isolate a group, and make generalizations,” said Roberts. “What they share online paints immigrants as criminals, and they celebrate arrests.”

Roberts said she believes immigrants are not the reason for the struggle in the labor market, but rather a broken economic system in this country.

“Sanctuary cities have seen boosts in the economy, and they are not coming into the cities to take out jobs; that is fear mongering,” said Roberts.

Roberts also believes that without the sanctuary communities in Massachusetts, immigrants who are witnesses or victims of crimes would be too afraid to speak up because they are afraid of deportation.

“If anything, sanctuary cities are more in the interest of public safety,” said Roberts.

June Anderson, another protester, said she was the first to contact Bederian to let him know she felt the group invited to speak at the VFW was a hate group. She said Bederian thought it was just a Republican fundraiser, and he didn’t know the stance of the CIS.

“I don't feel that the VFW should support any political group, especially not a hate group,” said Anderson. “Before you book the hall with anyone, you need to know their agendas.”

“I am disgusted that the Republican Party of Franklin would be so short-sighted and out of touch to even consider hosting this event; kudos to the VFW for cancelling,” said Amanda Shepard, picketing in front of the VFW.

Christian Yapor can be reached at 508-634-7521, or at cyapor@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChristianYapor